The Washington critic., 1887-05-28
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects Of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens and
Other Points Of Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.

Washington has already become the
most attractive city of the country. As
the Capital of the Nation II presents
more objects Of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and
brief directory of Its prominent points
will be of service TO the vast number of
persons who annually resort to the po-
litical metropolis. For 1t Is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of in
terest which so thickly stud the his.
toric "Ten Miles Square"
Tho System or Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances to
all houses, and the decimal system, as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hun
dred numbers being allotted to each square
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north, and A
street south, running south. The, odd num-
hers are always ' On the .ight-hand side go.
on the left-hand side. The city Is divided
into four. quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
running north and south numerically, and
Of the alpi abet, the dividing lines being
North M and outh Capitol streets. running
itol and Eas Capitol street, and contlnua-
tion on the same west of the CAPITOL run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
This great bu! ng is the central point Of the
original Dis I, and Is the largest edifce
In the coun' Its centre marks the Me-
ridian OF Wa .ington. The middle portion,
Immediately inder the dome, Is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British in 1914, but was completely restored
by 1877. II incloses the "crypt"-where the
remains Of Washington were Intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Hall, now the Gallery OF
Staff ry, and the old Senate Chamber, now
thes hIfeme Courtroom The old Supreme
Col' Groom, in the first story, Is now oocu-
Th' cofper-stone Of the Capitol extension
ths aorth and south, ,wings-Yas laid July 4,
49, Daniel Webster delivering tho oratlon
Of he occasion from the balcony of the
Ii rary. The south wing contains the
II, Use Of representatives.. and the north
WI gthe Senate Chamber. The rotunda Is dis
y aished Tor rs historic paintings for the
re- els, and for Brumldi's iresooings In tine
Ht of Statuary are the natural pictures of
Poi mac marble. representing faces of cer-
tan American siatesmehTa picturesque
inIIn, aiatelynorth of the great rotunda, tho
staiit ase To the top of the dome begins its
Winding way. From the top of the dome, or
hf NlSltpT dSctuu, LlB view
OF the surrounding country Is magnificent.
The Capitol eryunds, which formerly were
hoinoly aud formal In appearance, have
been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beauti.
iui. The east base Of the Capitol Is S1l6
itet abu, ordinary low tide int the Potomac.
The total heigut from east base to the top
ol the fiInne cnv'rirV the domo u 2s9 focf:
tao st..t.e OF the Goddess ui Liberty. u.s
feet, making the total height TO tho crest OF
the statue s05l6 feet. This crest Is $50 feet
higher than the west gate Of the grounds,
and 307 feet above low tide In the Poto mac
or s;S feet lower than the apex Of the Wash
ington Monument, which Is Immediately
west. The building Is 761 toet long by 3.i
wide, and covers W acres, IL Is the finest
and largest public building in the world,
and In many respects the costllest and
handsomest. II is moreover the growth OF
less than a century--a fact which adds tc
Its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
tol, or centre building, Is an imitation,
though not a slavlsh one, OF the Mason
Carree at Nismes. The view from the west
portico at night, when the lamps are lit fn
the public grounds and the lights OF tho city
lllumlnate the darkness Is ono Of tha most
beautiful and picturesque IN tho world aud